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Need Graphics Card Expectations Set

Tags:
  • Games
  • Antec
  • Graphics
  • Graphics Cards
  • Gaming
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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October 13, 2013 7:28:57 PM

I haven't played PC games since the days of Voodoo2 12MB SLI and a Riva TNT2. I recently built a rig for my kids ( 10 and 8 ) that wasn't really put together for gaming but it would be a nice bonus.

My rig is:

Antec NSK1380 case with Antec AR-350 power supply (80plus ) with the following specs:

+5v 20A
+12V1 18A
+12V2 18A
+3.3V 20A
-12V
0.8A
+5 SB 2.0A
It says =%V and +33V combined max output 110W
+12 combined max output 300W

Motherboard is a MSI -- H61M-P31 (G3) and the CPU is a Core i3-3210. I've got 8GB of memory, a Kingston SSDNow 300V 120GB drive for boot and a WD Velociraptor 300GB for data. For my monitor I have a 24" 1080p.

So I'm trying to make a good graphics card choice from a CPU/GPU blend perspective and what this limited power supply could support and what reasonable expectations I should have with said card. I'd like to spend $150 or less. I suppose I could go up to $200 if it really was a good value.

My hunch is a Radeon 7750 or maybe a 7770 and that I might be able to play some but not all games at 1080p. I appreciate all comments.

More about : graphics card expectations set

a c 502 U Graphics card
a c 225 4 Gaming
October 13, 2013 7:42:56 PM

At 1080p you would have to lower details dramatically for games to run smoothly with those cards, and your power supply really kinda limits your options...
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October 13, 2013 7:45:49 PM

I have a smaller 22" LCD that's only 1680x1050. Would it be better to switch that out and change my expectations? Would a game running at 1680x1050 look bad on a larger monitor with a 1920x1080 native resolution?

The current rig meets the core needs of the kids and gaming is just a bonus. I don't want to start over from scratch merely for gaming. ( I do have PS3 that I normally play. )
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a c 302 U Graphics card
a c 205 4 Gaming
October 13, 2013 7:46:35 PM

A 7750 is probably the strongest card that you can use without a stronger psu.
They are in the $100 range and is probably appropriate.
I might try that first.

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a c 302 U Graphics card
a c 205 4 Gaming
October 13, 2013 7:48:54 PM

Since you have both monitors, try each out and see which the kids prefer.
I am betting that they will like the larger one.
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Best solution

a c 502 U Graphics card
a c 225 4 Gaming
October 13, 2013 7:59:23 PM

chrpai said:
I have a smaller 22" LCD that's only 1680x1050. Would it be better to switch that out and change my expectations? Would a game running at 1680x1050 look bad on a larger monitor with a 1920x1080 native resolution?

The current rig meets the core needs of the kids and gaming is just a bonus. I don't want to start over from scratch merely for gaming. ( I do have PS3 that I normally play. )


Ah since it's for the kids then a 7750 would suffice, and playing 1680x1050 on that bigger monitor wouldn't look too bad, plus a bigger monitor would probably be better for their eyes right? :) 
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October 14, 2013 6:08:19 PM

rolandzhang3 said:
At 1080p you would have to lower details dramatically for games to run smoothly with those cards, and your power supply really kinda limits your options...


I'm wondering if that's really true. I was reading a review of my supply and it seems to do a good job of delivering the power it claims to offer. 18A on each 12v rail and 25A total continuous for both for 300W. I've read that my Core i3 has a TDP of 55W and that a GTX 650 Ti pulls a max of 110W. That seems to fall in range of what that power supply can push despite it not being a 450 / 500 / +++ power supply.

Am I missing something? It seems like my total system power would be around or under 200W.
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